SLOUCHING TOWARD THE MILLENNIUM

For Julia Child to make light of the use of the chemical Alar only points out her ignorance. There is nothing “hysterical” about the scientific studies cited by the National Resources Defense Council and other reputable scientific investigations that conclusively link the poisons (pesticides, herbicides and fungicides) used in growing our foods with cancer and other illnesses in humans.

She is a chef, not a nutritionist or a scientist: Her statement should have been qualified by the statement “If it looks, smells and tastes good, that is all that matters.” That is, of course, one of the biggest problems in educating the public--you can’t see, smell or taste these poisons, but they are present in our foods and bodies, and manifest themselves in many unnecessary diseases.

When Child referred to the “bad period when people don’t have much information about their food,” she ironically was talking about herself.

Why not print Child’s opinion on necessary versus unnecessary brain surgery? It would be equally as valid as that on Alar.

CLAUDIA CHASE-BRYCE, South Pasadena